Even the Planets are Watching with Interest the Arrival of the Famous Comet, plate 9 from La Cométe De 1857 1857

Honoré Daumier created this lithograph, "Even the Planets are Watching with Interest the Arrival of the Famous Comet," in France. It was plate nine from a series called “The Comet of 1857.” Daumier's artwork likely poked fun at both scientific curiosity and popular obsession. He was known for his satirical commentary on French society. Note that he was working at a time when printmaking was becoming more popular and democratic. Lithographs like this one could reach a wide audience through newspapers and journals. The image depicts planets as caricatures of human figures, exaggerating certain features to make a point about human behavior. Daumier cleverly uses the historical event of the comet to comment on social dynamics. To fully understand Daumier's intent, we can look at French newspapers and journals from the 1850s. These show us how comets, science, and social commentary mixed in the public's imagination. It's a potent reminder that art is always shaped by its time.